The COP26 Postmortem: No Progress Without Buy-In From The World’s Top Polluters US And China

The COP26 Postmortem: No Progress Without Buy-In From The World’s Top Polluters US And China

(Photo credit should read JASON LEE/AFP via Getty Images) The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference ended with hope and skepticism around the globe. Negotiators and national leaders have made pledges and proclamations aplenty — among them a vow to reverse deforestation within the decade — but it is undeniable that no pledge is set in stone, particularly when the signatories can hide behind (often intentionally) vague and non-binding language. Indonesia has already back-pedaled on its deforestation promise through a tweet from its Minister of environment Siti Nurbaya Bakar: "Forcing Indonesia to (reach) zero deforestation in 2030 is clearly inappropriate and unfair…development must not stop in the name of carbon emissions or in the name of deforestation." For the same reason, a signature will hardly stop the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro from continuing the deforestation that has made the Amazon rainforest a carbon emitter rather than a carbon sink. A draft document from the conference has highlighted the lack of resources for vulnerable countries and preponderance of weasel words to create the appearance of being on target. More than ever, the need for global leadership is apparent. Leadership is what is lacking on global climate progress, though both the United